Description: Lupo is a class of small, light, and fast multi-role frigates built by Fincantieri between the late 1970s and early 1980s for the Navies of Italy, Peru and Venezuela. Its CODOG propulsion system is based on two cruise diesel engines and two General Electric LM2500 gas turbines developing 50,000-shp. Lupo-class frigates weapon system includes eight Otomat anti-ship missiles, eight Aspide/Sea Sparrow SAM missiles, one 127mm 54-caliber naval gun, two 40mm anti-aircraft guns and two triple 323mm torpedo tubes. These frigates also include an aft hangar and flight deck for an AB-212 ASW helicopter.

Soldati, also known as Artigliere, class frigates are a modified variant of Lupo design originally ordered by the Iraqi Navy. Four ships were ordered by Iraq in the late 1970s when was ruled by Saddam Hussein but were not handed over due to the arms embargo caused by the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s. Finally, the Italian Navy took over these frigates in October 1994.